If politicians and political commentators out there can change their minds sometimes even multiple times... why can’t you?

First published in August 2019.

Below are just a few examples of British politicians and political commentators who have been changing positions over Brexit and other issues in the past few years, yet they believe voters cannot have the same right for, according to them, the decision taken in 2016 is sacrosanct and nobody has changed their minds since.

Note: The list below is not exhaustive and more familiar faces will be added soon...

Ben Bradley, MP — Conservatives.

Ben Bradley voted Remain in 2016. He changed his mind since on multiple occasions and now supports No-Deal Brexit.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Ben Bradley./ Channel 4 News.

Sajid Javid, Chancellor of the Exchequer — Conservatives.

Sajid Javid voted Remain in 2016. He changed his mind since, got rewarded for it under Theresa May as Home Secretary and again under Boris Johnson as Chancellor, and now supports No-Deal Brexit.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Sajid Javid./ ITV News.

Liz Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade — Conservatives.

Liz Truss voted Remain in 2016. She changed her mind since, got rewarded with a job under Theresa May and a better job in Boris Johnson’s government, and now supports No-Deal Brexit.

If she can change her mind, why can’t you?

Lizz Truss./ LBC.

Steve Barclay, Brexit Secretary — Conservatives.

After closing the debate on the request for an extension of Article 50, last March, Steve Barclay voted against the very extension he had just argued was in the national interest and was, by the way, a Government Motion supported by Theresa May. Steve Barclay changed his mind, kept his job in Boris Johnson’s government, and now supports No-Deal Brexit.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Steve Barclay, 15 March 2019./ BBC Parliament.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP — Conservatives.

Jacob Rees-Mogg voted Leave in 2016. He changed his mind about Theresa May’s deal saying it was better than no Brexit, and then again saying it was terrible and should be chucked. He got rewarded with a good job in Boris Johnson’s government, and now supports No-Deal Brexit.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Jacob Rees-Mogg./ LBC.

Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions — Conservatives.

Amber Rudd voted Remain in 2016. She changed her mind since, got rewarded for it under Theresa May twice and kept her job under Boris Johnson, and now supports No-Deal Brexit.

If she can change her mind, why can’t you?

Amber Rudd./ ITV News.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister — Conservatives.

When he was Mayor of Lonfon, Boris Johnson called the then presidential candidate Donald Trump stupefying ignorant and unfit to be president of the United States, and said he would not want to impose his presence onto Londoners. Trump has since become president and Johnson prime minister, and they are friends.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Boris Johnson, December 2015./ Channel 4 News

Boris Johnson voted Leave in 2016. He told Sky News that nobody wants a No-Deal Brexit and everybody wants the UK to leave the EU with a good deal. He has since become prime minister and changed his mind, effectively driving the UK towards a No-Deal Brexit on 31 October.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Boris Johnson, 29 January 2019./ Sky News.

Chris Skidmore, Minister for Health — Conservatives.

Chris Skidmore voted Remain in 2016. He changed his mind since, got rewarded by Theresa May and with a better job in Boris Johnson’s government, and now supports No-Deal Brexit.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Chris Skidmore, 17 August 2019./ Twitter - Steve Bray

Caroline Flint, MP — Labour.

Caroline Flint voted Remain in 2016. She changed her mind since, and is now fully determined to deliver Brexit at all costs, even if it means No-Deal Brexit, which, by the way, doesn’t think would be her fault.

If she can change her mind, why can’t you?

Caroline Flint, 26 July 2019./ BBC, Brexitcast

Daniel Hannan, MEP — Conservatives.

Daniel Hannan voted Leave in 2016. He told Newsnight that he was in favour of Freedom of Movement of labour, which is the opposite to what the Leave side campaigned for during the EU Referendum.

If he can change his mind, why can’t you?

Daniel Hannan./ BBC, Newsnight.

Ruth Lea, Economic Adviser — Arbuthnot Banking Group.

Ruth Lea used to work at the Treasury. She explained to her fellow paper-reviewer that she made figures up when she was in the Treasury, before realising it was wrong thing for her to say live on air, and eventually denying she ever did make up figures at all.

If she can change her mind, why can’t you?

Ruth Lea, 6 August 2019./ BBC News, The Papers.

These are just a few examples of how they change their minds... so you don’t have to.🔷

The list above is not exhaustive and more familiar faces will be added soon...

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[This is an original piece, first published by the author in PoliticsMeansPolitics.com on 21 August 2019. | The author writes in a personal capacity.]

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